“Of all time” is a big claim for any list. Netflix’s catalogue rotates, tastes differ and no single ranking settles it. But if you want a short list of shows that people keep coming back to when the subject is infidelity, there are some clear names.
This guide pulls them together. It covers what “best of all time” can sensibly mean, the best adultery series on Netflix of all time by criteria I can explain, what each show is about, which popular titles aren’t on Netflix and how to check what’s available where you live. It also covers the SEO side, because lists like this are a classic way to end up with several pages competing for the same search.
Disclaimer
This article is for general entertainment information only. Netflix availability, ratings and episode counts change often and vary by country. Always check the platform for current details and content warnings before watching. SEO and content results vary by site, niche and competition, and no tactic can guarantee a ranking.
Netflix’s catalogue varies by country and changes often. Check your own app and the age rating before you press play, because most of these are for adults.
How to Judge “Best of All Time”
There’s no official ranking, so here is the approach I used:
| Criterion | What I looked for |
|---|---|
| Infidelity is central | The affair drives the story, not just a subplot |
| Staying power | The show is still discussed or listed across several roundups |
| Reach | Evidence of a large audience, where a source reports it |
| Distinct flavour | A mix of thrillers, dramas and international titles |
| Netflix connection | The title has been on Netflix, with availability varying by country |
Ranking sites such as Ranker are voted on by readers, so they show popularity, not quality. I’ve treated them as one signal, not a verdict.
The Shortlist at a Glance
| Series | Origin | Type | Why it’s on the list |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Desire (2020 to 2022) | Mexico | Erotic thriller | Huge international audience |
| Behind Her Eyes (2021) | UK | Psychological thriller | Twisty, with a supernatural layer |
| Sex/Life (2021) | US | Romantic drama | Tops one reader-voted list |
| Anatomy of a Scandal (2022) | UK | Political and legal drama | Affair meets courtroom |
| Fatal Seduction (2023) | South Africa | Thriller | Based on Dark Desire |
| The Hunting Wives (2025) | US | Soapy thriller | Recent and binge-friendly |
| His & Hers (2026) | US | Murder mystery | Affairs inside a whodunnit |
| Scandal | US | Political drama | Long-running, with a famous affair at its centre |
1. Dark Desire (2020 to 2022)
Dark Desire (Oscuro deseo) is a Mexican thriller drama created by Leticia López Margalli for Netflix. Wikipedia reports that season 1 was the most-watched non-English title on Netflix, reaching 35 million viewers in 28 days. That figure comes from Netflix’s announcement as recorded by Wikipedia, so treat it as reported, not independently verified.
The Cinemaholic describes it as centred on Alma, who is married to Leonardo, and says her affair with her law student Darío is only part of a larger web of infidelity.
Why it’s on the list: It’s often the first title people name when they want an international series about affairs. It’s also the model for Fatal Seduction. best adultery series on netflix of all time.
Keep in mind: It’s an erotic thriller with adult content. Check the rating and which seasons are available in your region.
2. Behind Her Eyes (2021)
The Cinemaholic notes that this series, developed by Steve Lightfoot and based on Sarah Pinborough’s novel, adds a supernatural layer to infidelity. Louise, a single mother, begins an affair with her boss David, who is married to Adele.
Why it’s on the list: It’s a limited series with a defined ending, and it’s one that people discuss because of its twist.
Keep in mind: It carries a mature rating and has dark psychological themes. best adultery series on netflix of all time.
3. Sex/Life (2021)
The Movie Database describes Sex/Life as a story in which a woman’s daring sexual past collides with her married-with-kids present when the bad-boy ex she can’t stop fantasising about crashes back into her life. Ranker’s reader-voted list of shows about cheaters and affairs showed it in the top three at the time of the page.
Why it’s on the list: It’s the most openly romantic title here.
Keep in mind: It’s explicit in tone, and reactions vary. Try an episode or two first.
4. Anatomy of a Scandal (2022)
The Cinemaholic describes it as developed by David E. Kelley and Melissa James Gibson, starring Sienna Miller, Rupert Friend, Naomi Scott and Michelle Dockery, and blending infidelity and politics. best adultery series on netflix of all time.
Why it’s on the list: Infidelity is the spark, but the show is about consequences, with a public case at its centre.
Keep in mind: It deals with serious subject matter, including an assault allegation, so check content warnings.
5. Fatal Seduction (2023)
The Cinemaholic lists this South African thriller as based on Dark Desire and dealing with the dangers that pleasures of the flesh can bring. best adultery series on netflix of all time.
Why it’s on the list: It shows how a successful premise travels across countries.
Keep in mind: Check which version is available in your country.
6. The Hunting Wives (2025)
CBR describes it as a murder mystery centred on a group of elite East Texas women, in which a newcomer discovers a world of obsession, lies, affairs and murder. best adultery series on netflix of all time.
Why it’s on the list: It’s recent, glossy and easy to binge.
Keep in mind: Affairs sit alongside a murder mystery, and the tone is adult.
7. His & Hers (2026)
Wikipedia lists His & Hers as a Netflix mystery thriller adapted from Alice Feeney’s novel, which premiered in January 2026. In the story, detectives question a victim’s husband, who gives details of their marriage and her extramarital affairs. best adultery series on netflix of all time.
Why it’s on the list: It’s the newest title here and a good fit for viewers who want a whodunnit with marriage secrets.
Keep in mind: Infidelity is one thread, not the whole story. best adultery series on netflix of all time.
8. Scandal
Ranker’s list mentions Scandal for exploring the political machinations that both exacerbate and conceal affairs. TV Insider has described the show’s fixer, Olivia Pope, as hiding her own affair with the President.
Why it’s on the list: It’s a long-running series, so it offers plenty to watch. best adultery series on netflix of all time.
Keep in mind: Its availability on Netflix depends on your country, and it’s a long commitment.
Honourable Mentions: Great Shows That Aren’t on Netflix
Many of the most-praised infidelity dramas are on other platforms or aren’t on Netflix in every country:
| Show | Why people mention it | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Foster | Ranker voters rank it among the top three infidelity shows | A BBC drama, so check your streaming options |
| The Affair | Often placed beside Sex/Life and Doctor Foster | A Showtime drama |
| The Good Wife | Appears on infidelity-tagged lists | Not a Netflix original |
| Out of Love | Indian remake of Doctor Foster | Wikipedia notes mixed reviews, including some calling it a banal take |
| Obsession (2023) | Netflix erotic thriller | Wikipedia notes negative reception |
Streaming rights change, so check where a title is available in your country. best adultery series on netflix of all time.
How to Choose
| If you want… | Try |
|---|---|
| A big international thriller | Dark Desire |
| A twist ending | Behind Her Eyes |
| Romance and fantasy | Sex/Life |
| Courtroom and politics | Anatomy of a Scandal |
| A recent binge | The Hunting Wives or His & Hers |
| A long-running drama | Scandal |
If you’re watching with a partner, talk first. Stories about betrayal can land differently depending on what’s going on in your own life. best adultery series on netflix of all time.
For Site Owners: The Cannibalisation Problem With “Best of” Lists
This is RankRX, so here’s the SEO lesson. These are general best practices, and nobody can guarantee a ranking.
Keywords such as the best adultery series on Netflix of all time overlap with “2026,” “Hollywood” and “Indian” variants. If you publish a separate page for each, Google may see them as competing for the same searches, which is often called keyword cannibalisation. best adultery series on netflix of all time.
What to do instead
| Option | When it makes sense |
|---|---|
| Merge into one pillar page | The pages cover mostly the same titles |
| Keep separate pages with clearly different angles | Each page has distinct content, such as a country or a year |
| Link the pages together | Readers and search engines can see how they relate |
| Redirect or canonicalise overlapping pages | You’re consolidating duplicates, so check Google’s guidance on redirects and canonical URLs |
| Update, don’t duplicate | A yearly refresh of one page often beats a new page each year |
A pillar page like this one can sit at the centre, with links out to your 2026, Hollywood and Indian lists. But if those pages repeat the same picks, merging them is usually better than keeping four versions. best adultery series on netflix of all time.
Other habits worth keeping
- Be clear about how you chose. “Best of all time” claims need criteria.
- Name your sources and dates. Several lists I found were more than a year old.
- Keep descriptions plot-level, and check your ad network’s policies on adult content.
- Disclose affiliate links clearly, following current UK advertising guidance.
- Update with real changes, not only the year. best adultery series on netflix of all time.
Results vary by site, niche and competition.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Treating a “best of all time” list as objective.
- Trusting an old list. Catalogues change.
- Assuming a show is on Netflix in your country.
- Mixing up shows on different platforms.
- Starting a long-running series without checking season availability.
- Ignoring age ratings.
- Expecting a pure affair drama from a mystery or political thriller.
- Publishing several near-identical lists on your own site.
- Quoting viewing figures without a source.
- Skipping content warnings.
A Quick Checklist
- I’ve searched each title in my Netflix app
- I’ve checked the age rating and content warnings
- I know whether the show is a limited series or ongoing
- I’ve decided what mood I want
- I’ve checked which platform hosts titles that aren’t on Netflix
- (For site owners) I’ve checked that my pages don’t duplicate each other
Final Thoughts
The best adultery series on Netflix of all time can’t be settled by one list, but a handful of titles keep appearing: Dark Desire for sheer reach, Behind Her Eyes and Anatomy of a Scandal for tension, Sex/Life for romance and The Hunting Wives and His & Hers for recent binges. best adultery series on netflix of all time.
Check your own catalogue, read the content ratings and treat any list, including this one, as a starting point.
READ MORE: Best Adultery Series on Netflix Indian 4 Honest Picks
Streaming details change fast, and for site owners, results vary by site, niche and competition, so verify the details before you watch or publish. best adultery series on netflix of all time.
FAQs
What is the best adultery series on Netflix of all time?
There’s no official answer. Dark Desire, Behind Her Eyes, Anatomy of a Scandal and Sex/Life are among the most-mentioned titles. Check what’s available in your country. best adultery series on netflix of all time.
Was Dark Desire really that popular?
Wikipedia reports Netflix announced that season 1 was the most-watched non-English title, with 35 million viewers in 28 days. That figure comes from Netflix’s announcement, so treat it as reported.
Is Doctor Foster on Netflix?
It’s a BBC drama and ranks highly on reader-voted infidelity lists, but availability varies by country. Check your streaming options.
Which shows are based on others?
Fatal Seduction is a South African series based on Dark Desire, and Out of Love is an Indian adaptation of Doctor Foster. best adultery series on netflix of all time.
Are these series suitable for families?
Generally no. Most carry adult ratings, so check the rating and content warnings first.
Should I publish separate “best adultery series” pages for each year and region?
Often not. If the pages overlap heavily, they can compete with each other. Consider one strong pillar page, or make each page’s angle clearly different, and link them together.
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